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Terminology to describe undesired dog behavior

  • Mouthy: When a dog is overexcited and uses his mouth on your arms, applying pressure but without attempt to cause harm. Sometimes people will say 'aggressive' when they really mean 'mouthy' or 'fearful'.

  • Vocal: Think hounds or huskies. Howling, yowling or barking when overly excited.

  • Bite: A break in the skin from teeth, even if accidental. Not the same as 'mouthy'.

  • Intentional Bite: A bite with malice/aggression/intent to cause harm.

  • Pulls/Puller: A usually stronger dog that pulls ahead on the leash.

  • Shy/Scared: Learning to trust humans.

  • Dog's name written in red on the board: best for experienced walkers. The dog may be a puller, or mouthy, need firm leash skill direction, etc.

Avoid words like aggressive, mean, or nippy, as an inaccurate label can have consequences for the dog. If a dog is truly aggressive, staff will have them marked as staff only to keep volunteers safe. If you experience behavior from a dog that feels unsafe, please report it to staff immediately.

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